Tuscaloosa's Time Traveler: The Drish House

Tuscaloosa's been around longer than Alabama itself, and its buildings have stories to tell! One standout is the Drish House, a true icon of the city's past.

With a bunch of spots on the National Register of Historic Places, Tuscaloosa is basically a living history book. But keeping these old buildings alive isn't always easy, and some are lost forever.

A Soulful Place

"Tuscaloosa’s lost so much," says Nika McCool, the current owner of the Drish House. She talked about how important these places are and how they "encapsulate the soul" of a town.

For Nika, the Drish House is more than just a place to throw a party; it’s a piece of history. Built in 1834, it tells the story of the rise and fall of the "Cotton Kingdom.”

Dr. Drish's Vision

Dr. John Drish, the original owner, was a doctor, a legislator, and his own architect! He built the house on seized Choctaw land and kept renovating it, blending different styles, adding a tower that McCool jokes "makes no sense at all."

More Than Just Beauty

But preserving the Drish House also means facing the tough parts of its history. It was built by enslaved craftsmen, whose stories are mostly lost. Preservation is about remembering the good and the bad, the beauty, and the inequality.

The only enslaved craftsman whose name we know is William Drish. His plasterwork can still be seen in the tower and at other landmarks around town.

A House of Many Lives

Over the years, the Drish House has been a home, a school, and even an auto parts store! By the 1990s, it was almost torn down. Luckily, the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society stepped in, and in 2012, the McCools took on the massive job of restoring it.

From Barn Cats to Beauty

McCool remembers the house being "dark and weird and stinky." It needed everything! But the McCools were determined to save it.

The renovation took two years, filled with research and hard work. They even tracked down old brick mortar recipes! McCool still misses the wraparound porch, lamenting that “you couldn’t replace that workmanship even if you had the money.”

Haunted History

Of course, no old house is complete without a ghost story! The Drish House has its share of unexplained sounds and spooky feelings.

A Vibrant Future

Today, the Drish House is a thriving event venue. The goal wasn't just to save the past but to create a space for the present. McCool wants it to be a place where people can gather for community events.

"I feel a lot of satisfaction," McCool says. "The Drish House is now 180 years old — and it could go for another 180."